Railway switch point connection



Feb. 5, 1952 E. CILARRY RAILWAY SWITCH POINT CONNECTION Filed OCT.. 20, 1945 Flc-al.

MUNI-m IN VEN TOR.

BY 0, @a/@7.,

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 5, 1952 RAILWAY SWITCH POINT ONNECTION Edwin C. Larry, Greece, N. Y., assignor to General Railway Signal Company, Rochester, N. Y.

Application October 20, 1945, Serial No. 623,463

2 Claims.

This invention relates to railway track equ1pment, and more particularly pertains to the connection to a switch rod of the points of a track switch, derail switch, or the like.

It is desirable in connecting throw rods, lock rods and the like to the movable points of e. track switch, to provide these connections in such a manner as not to spring the points of the track switch when such switch is operated, to hold the switch points down in their proper position, to allow for the adjustment of the switch points. and to restrict the tendency of the switch points to roll outwardly from the stock rails when the switch points are pulled up against the stock rails in the operation of the track switch.

An object of the present invention is to provide track switch rods and connectors having al1 of the above mentioned desirable features, such rods being particularly adapted to provide a positive supporting means against the rolling of the switch points away from the stock rails upon closure of the switch points.

Another object of the present invention is to provide for maximum adjustment in a switch point connecting rod with a minimum number of parts required, such adjustment is particularly provided so that the connection of either switch point can be adjusted without disturbing the adjustment of the other point, and without disturbing the adjustment of the throw rod or lock rod connection. The use of corresponding parts associated with lock rod and-throw rod switch point connections provides maximum interchangeability of parts, and requires a minimum stock of parts for replacement.

Other objects, purposes and characteristic features of the present invention will be in part obvious from the accompanying drawings, and in part pointed out as the description ofthe invention progresses.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be made to the accompanying drawing in which corresponding reference characters designate corresponding parts in the different views. and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the end of a track switch showing the connection of its switch points by the front rod and throw rod connection bars as provided by the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational transverse sectional view taken at the end of a track switch; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the parts of a bearing or hinge assembly with its parts shown in unassembled relationship as a diagrammatic illustration of the detailed construction and manner of assembly of such parts. Y

With reference to Fig. l, the stocks rails ,2 and 3 are connected to railroad ties such as the tie in the conventional manner. The track switch is shown as having a normally closed movable switch point 5 and normally open movable switch point 6. Such switch points are properly assembled into the switch track layout in the usual manner. At the end of the switch point 5, a lug 'I is secured to the switch point for operating the detector bar 8, such lug being connected to the detector bar 8 by a suitable swivel joint I5 at its end with a resilient means to adjust for wear provided by the spring 9.

The switch points are provided with lugs for the connection of the respective rods connecting the ends of the movable points of the track switch, the lugs I!) and Il being similar to the lugs I2 and I 3 except for their being ofl left-hand and right-hand characters. The lug I2, for example, is of rectangular bar stock and is rmly secured longitudinally to the switch point 6 by the bolts I4. The lug I2 extends beyond the end of the switch point 6, and it has a journal pin I5 formed as by forging as an integral part thereof. The journal pin I6 is offset from the longitudinal portion of the lug I2, and it extends downwardly from the switch point transverse with respect to the longitudinal portion of the lug I2. The pin I6 is substantially entirely below the base of the switch point to which it is assembled, and because of its length and disposition substantially below the track rails, a rigid support against the rolling of the associated switch point is provided when the switch point is pulled up against the ball of the associated stock rail in the operation of the track switch. Each of the rods for connecting the switch points comprises two identical bar members I', such bar members for each of such connecting rods being secured end to end and in axial align ment by a yoke I8. The yoke I8 is provided with parts for insulating the two bar members in accordance with the usual practice. In conditions where insulation is not required, the iront rod can be provided as a single bar with serrations at each end. v

Connected to the yoke is a suitable adjustable connector I9 in the case of the front rod for connection to the lock rod 2li, and a suitable basket, or throw bar connector 2l, as in the case of the throw bar connection to the throw rod 22. The throw bar connection 2i can be provided, for example, as shown in my prior Patent No. 1,507,- 491, dated September 2, 1924.

Each of the bar members Il has a serrated portion 23 near the end of the bar, such serrations extending transversely across the side of the bar for providing an adjustable mounting for the hinge or bearing used for firmly securing the switch point connecting lug to the switch point connecting bar.

With reference to Fig. 3, a split bearing is shown having a hinge member 24 and a bearing cap 25. The hinge member Q4 has a serrated mounting surface 25 with the Serrat-ions extending longitudinally with the hinge member 2 for providing a rigid mounting of the bearing to the bar Il in a manner which is readily adjustable longitudinally with such bar. The bearing cornprises two cylindrical bearing. surfaces spaced longitudinally and in axial alignment.; Such bearing is formed by the bearing halves 2l and 28 of hinge 24 in combination with the hearing halves 29 and Sil of cap 25 respectively when the hinge 26 and the cap 25 are assembled. By the use of these vtivo longitudinally spaced bearing surfaces, the lug for example is journaled, in a manner to provide a support against lat eral torsional movementr o switch peint.' t which it isv associated, and yet pro-aide. a hinged connect-ien to. the. rad il. to. horiZ-ental movement of the switch point when the switch is operatedfrorn one posi-tion to the4 other. Longitudinal mcvementoi the. journal it at the end of lug i2. within the. hinge and the c is rest "icted by shculders. 3J. and l2 at the e; the. journal isi..

The bar il' has elongated hcfes for the mounting bolts 3.2L which are used for. irinly curing the bearing parts. 2e. and 2ty aronnd the journal l. aty the end of the connecting lug l?. Such bolts also` serve as a. means for connecting the hingernember 2,4 to the bar member il. it, is believed readily apparent thatthe. elongated holes 34 allow thev shifting of the. hinge member 2t along the serrations o the bar il' longitudinally with. respect to such bar to provide for proper a-:ljustment of the connection of the switch point t to that bar.

After having. considered specically the structure and. assembly of parts. in thisY embodiment of the present invention,r some consideration will now be given as to some ofr the reasons for this particular type of structure.

The use of. the. serrated surface manner of sethe hinge 2li to the bar il, has several distinct advantages. First it helps to reduce lost motion between the switch point S and the lock rod 8 by providing a, rigid hinge. mounting that cannot rock or slip one way or another without requiring any dimensions of the. hinge tov be kept within close tolerances except. for the. itting of the bearings. This also. applies to the. mounting bolts 3.3. as such bolts can have plenty of, freedom within the elongated holes. 3A. to. allow them tobe easily shifted longitunnall-y when adjustment of the switch point. is required.,4 all, without. intro.- ducing lost motion into.I the connection of .the hinge 2li to. the bar member ll.. ItI will also be noted that no close tolerances arefreq-uired by the bar member Il for any of its dimensions, includa the switch point 6, for example, is pulled up against the stock rail 3, it will be noted that securing the journal or hinge pin I6 as a part of the lug l2, which is securely bolted to the switch point, provides that the only lost motion possible is that of the tting of the pin I6 within the hinge 2e and the cap 25. This is compared, for example, tousing a. system in which an eye would be formed'on the end of the lug, and a free hinge pin dropped through the eye and the hinge. Under such conditions the lost motion in the eye would have to be considered in addition to any lostv motion between the pin and the hinge.

From the; standpoint of adjustment, the manner providedl in which each switch pointl can be adjusted independent of the other is an ideal type ofv adjustment because it does not disturb the adjustment of the lock rod or throw rod connector. More specifically either; switch point 5 or 6 can be adjusted, for example' without disturbing the adjustment of the connector i 9, or in the case of the throw bar, without disturbing the adjustnient of the connector 2 i With respect. to interchangeability of parts, it will be notedl that the same type ofbar Il is used on the left-hand and right-hand sides. of both rods for; connecting the track rails and that such bars. are all, interchangeable. The hinges and caps are the same type for all connecting points, and the lugs l0 and lll are the saine type and differ from the lugs l2' and i3 only in thatV they have abend at their ends in an opposite direction.

The from; rod arrangement provided by the present invention is particularly designed for long life with arninirnum amount of' maintenance required. This is particularly true in that there is only one place where. movement of the tract; switch can cause wear, and that is in the bearings of the hinges. As a means for reducing wear at these points, a suitable` lubrication fitting 36. is provided on each of theV hinge caps 2.5, by which the lubrication chamber 35' between the bearings is filled with lubricant-I which is eilective to lubricate both-of the bearings 2'! and 2S in each of the hinges.

Having thus described a means for connecting the peints of a track switch as one speciicV ernbodirnent of the present invention, it is desired to 'ce understood that this f im is selected to facilitate in the disclosure of the invention rather than to limit the number Aof forms which the invention may assui'ne,V and it is to be lfurther understocd that various adaptations, alterations and modifications may be` applied to the. specic form shown te` meet. the requirements of. practice without inv anyv manner departing from the spirit or scope ofthe presentL invention except. as limited by the appended What I claim is:

1. A connector for connecting a Switchpoint to asw-itch rod comprising in combination., a lug having a substantially straight longitudinal portion adapted to be secured to the side ofr alswitch point, said lug having an integral journal pin of substantial length ois'et' rorn-v saidlongitudinal portion and' extending transversely from the longitudinal axis of said lug, said journal pin'v having longitudinally spaced limiting flanges marking the limits. of asubstantial journal Portion of. the

pin, said journal; portion'` being sufficiently spaced transversely from thielongitudinal axis of said longitudinal. portion ci said. 111g: to extend subF stantiallyy entirely below Vthe base of' a. switch point to: Which the: lug.' mayk be;- secured, a split bearing adapted to couple. said journal pin to a switch rod by journaling said pin along said journal portion between saidanges, one half of said bearing having a serratedmountig surface adaptedr to cooperate in adjustably securing the bearing to a correspondingly serrated surface of a switch rod, said bearing having longitudinally spaced bearing contact surfaces which adjoin the respective flanges of said journal pin, whereby the spacing of the bearing surfaces provides a structure adapted to resist maximum torsional force applied to said lug with a minimum amount of friction being set up by bearing contact surfaces, and means including bolts for detachably securing the halves of said bearing together about said journal pin, said means also being adapted to secure said serrated surface by said bolts in cooperative locking engagement with the serrated surface of a switch rod, whereby the journal pin is securely journaled within the bearing when the bearing is secured to a switch rod with which the coupling may be associated, and whereby the bearing can be readily replaced without removal of the lug from a switch point.

2. A connector for connecting a switch point to a switch rod comprising in combination, a lug having a substantially straight longitudinal portion adapted to be secured longitudinally along the side of a switch point, said lug having an integral journal pin of substantial length offset from said longitudinal portion and extending transversely from said straight longitudinal portion, said journal pin having a journal portion spaced transversely from said straight longi tudinal portion sufficiently to extend substantially entirely below the base of a switch point to which the lug may be secured, a split bearing adapted to couple said journal pin to a switch rod by journaling said journal pin along said journal portion, one half of said bearing having a serrated mounting surface adapted to cooperate in adjustably securing the bearing to a correspondingly serrated surface of a switch rod, and means lincluding bolts for detachably securing the halves of said bearing together about said journal pin,

said means also being adapted to secure said serrated surface by said bolts in cooperative locking engagement with a switch rod, whereby the jouru nal pin is securely journaled within the bearing whenever the bearing is secured to a switch rod with which the coupling may be associated, and whereby a small amount of force exerted through said bearing can balance moments about the upper portion of any switch point to which the Ylug may be attached because of the journal portion of the lug being spaced substantially from the longitudinal axis of the lug.

EDWIN C. LARRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: 

